Not only did he play the position of club favourite Mitchell Pearce, but he had also been the source of sustained State of Origin heartache for that player.

When confirmation came of Cronk's prized signing - barely a month after the Roosters fell one game short of a grand final - there were instant rumours of unhappiness in the playing group.

It didn't take long for Pearce to wave goodbye and leave town for Newcastle.

The Roosters' Jake Friend told AAP: "We had to deal with it because it was a bit abrupt, but that's footy. Pearcey got his role up there in Newcastle and Coops came here and now it is what it is.

"Coops is here now. He's one of us and he's a big reason why we're here in this grand final."

All year, Cronk refused to consider the possibility of meeting his old club in the decider.

But this week, sitting at the opposite end of the table from Smith and Storm coach Craig Bellamy at the traditional pre-grand-final press conference this week, he was anxious.

"The team on the far left of the table (Melbourne) have contributed to me being the person and the player I am today," Cronks said.

"The team on this side has allowed me to have the two loves of football and my family, together. I think they can contribute to an immense amount.

"If I had stayed in Melbourne, I wouldn't have gotten married and have a beautiful family."

Ironically, it's the physical pain of a shoulder injury that could lead to the heartbreak of him missing out of a grand final appearance against his former club.

All year he's shouldered the burden of leaving a club he loved, in pursuit of a woman he loved, while carrying the hopes of a club he's grown to love. And he is refusing to let a tear in his shoulder be the final page in his script.

"(The Roosters) have sacrificed a hell of a lot for me to be here. And that's part of the reason why I'm working around the clock to be right for Sunday," he said.

"While it's great to play football for yourself and individual accolades, I think these guys have given up a lot for me to be here. And I think it's only fair that I return that favour back."